Floyd Central exploded for four goals in the second half and blitzed past host New Albany 5-1 Thursday night in boys’ soccer.

After sitting back for the first 20 minutes, the Highlanders (7-1-1, 4-0-1 Hoosier Hills) started to put the pressure on the Bulldogs (7-3, 2-1).

“We were playing way too much in the middle, Floyd Central coach Tim Rice said of the first half. “In the second half, we started spreading the field out a little better, and started using our backs in our possession game. That helped quite a bit.”

In the 31st minute, Floyd Central’s Drew Cromwell took a pass from Aidan Jackson and found Daniel Flores wide open in the mouth of the goal. Flores punched it in. “It was wam, bam, bam. He (Flores) just happened to be in the right spot at the right time.”

In the 48th minute — as the Highlanders took control — Cromwell again came up with the assist and Connor Burke converted the header, giving Floyd Central a 2-0 cushion.

Two minutes later, the Highlanders went up 3-0 on an own goal.

In the 67th minutes, the Highlanders scored twice, the first on a long run down the right sideline by Jackson. The second came on a goal by Kelby Rippy, who was assisted by Hasten Blaylock.

In the 75th minute, the Bulldogs avoided the shutout after a goal by Matheo Urrego.